Hemoproteus

The prevalence of Hemoproteus in immature sharp-shinned hawks was 28.3%, yet no adults showed Hemoproteus parasitemia on the blood smears. On a similar note, 21.7% of immature birds had Leu-kocytozoon but only 4.35% of adults showed signs of infection.

Plasmodium, hemoproteus, toxoplasma, and leucocytozoon are more readily identified in impression smears of the liver and spleen. The impression smear will also quickly differentiate tumor masses from mycobacterial granulomas.

Blood Parasites : Both Hemoproteus and Plasmodium species affect songbirds to varying degrees. The samples collected in the summer of 2004 showed a 23% prevalence of Plasmodium in the Northern Cardinal population (no pattern across habitat type was seen).